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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

After reading about the return of Chris Henry to the NFL I decided to skim the pages of some other NFL players with checkered pasts to see if they too were going to get what should affectionately be known as the WVU Treatment--in honor of Pacman and Henry breaking nearly every conceivable law and yet continue to play in the NFL. My search was abrubtly halted when I found this little gem regarding Matt Jones' recent arrest for reportedly cutting up cocaine with a credit card in his vehicle. It is a quote I found on Profootballtalk.com's website from Matt Jones' father, Steve Jones.

"We want to make it clear that Matt was not in possession of any drugs, but that there were drugs in the vehicle and were located in the closest proximity to Matt."

However, Arkansasbusiness.com reported that:

"...officers arrested Jones and two other men as they sat in a Toyota 4Runner in an unlit parking lot in a known drug area.

The preliminary arrest report shows an officer saw Jones sitting in the back seat of the car with a white card with a white powdery substance on it, and a credit card in his other hand."

Yeah, I would say having it in your hand would be considered "closest proximity".....what about in your nose, would that too put you in closest proximity? I bet if Jones had run over some kids his father would have stated that his son was not driving the car but would admit his son was in closest proximity to the driver's seat. So Steven, ya wanna try again, take a mulligan on that one?

I know that this is his son, and he does not want to see anything bad happen to him, but who does he think he is helping by coming out with these ridiculous comments? Did Jones' attorneys think this was a good idea? Who does have counseling him? Mike Nifong? Did he hire Kim Etheridge as his publicist? How about saying nothing at all.

But sadly, this is yet another instance of an athlete breaking the law and having those around them give every excuse as to why they are not at fault. Meanwhile, Matt Jones is waiting for the Court's decision before he will read an attorney generated mea culpa that will have all the makings of an apology except for one thing...admitting he did something wrong.

15
comments:

Anonymous
said...

Nice, so lets have daddy throw his son under the bus, get real. As his father, I'm sure he's just telling folks what his son told him. Don't condemn the family for the actions of the criminal. Seriously, thats crap.

Seriously? You'd bash a father for not throwing his son under the bus? Get real - you're telling me you can't accept the love a father can have for a child? Really? This has to be the worst post you have ever made on this blog, Matty.

I just thought it was a bit tacky for his dad to even chime in. I obviously don't expect the guy to say his son is the second coming of Doc Gooden, but in my mind him speaking out makes it look worse than it already does. As a father myself, I don't expect him to throw his son under the bus, but I certainly wouldn't make it sound like I am being an enabler either, which even you have to admit, is how he comes off here. A simple "no comment" or "my son will have his day in court" blurb would have sufficed here...

Where did I say that Jones should have thrown his son under the bus? All I was speaking to is how the comments of the father are indicative of how pro athletes respond to their illegal actions....they do not own up to and cry that they are a victim of circumstance (Steve Jones' comments shed some light on the defense Matt Jones will put up). The comments were ridiculous and, as mentioned, he should have just said no comment. No, you don't expect him to admit his son's guilt, but given the police report and the absolute lunacy of his comments he all but stated 'my son is guilty and all I can do is come up with a defense that is so beyond rational that it makes my son looks guilty'. If there was a plausible explanation we would have heard it, not this garbage.

It is garbage. To proactively seek information from a family member who was not there and is obviously biased is less than good reporting. He father should be condemned for trying to help his son. Besides being poor form, it is insulting to the other victims in these sorts of episodes - the family.

There are whole organizations such as Alanon that assist the family through situations such as these. IMO, it is simply inexcusable to bash a father try to protect his son. You know and I know what happened. But we all also know that there is no real reason to interview a father at a time like this. you know as well as I do, that you're not going to hear the whole story. Common sense dictates that.

So Steve Jones went from "just telling folks what his son told him" to a "family member who was not there" and should not have been interviewed. Is he not culpable for getting in front of the mic and making such a ridiculous statement, regardless if he were in the car or not?

Either way, the comment was ridiculous, it is indicative of the 'it's not my fault' atmosphere in pro sports....always someone else's fault, much like the radio station is being blamed for interviewing Jones. Not his fault, he should never have been asked those questions.

Sorry Matty, he did not agree. Instead he continues to whine about a poor man being questioned about his son's pending incarceration due to drugs. Yeah, good stuff. Obviously 1. you're not a father, 2. have never been through a situation like this. Drugs tear a family apart, but instead you'd rather nitpic an old man trying to help his son.

There are certain things in life that when they happen, they are given a free pass due to the underlying situation. Rejoicing at some poorly choosen remarks by a distraught father is one of those situations. To revel in his suffering is reprehensible.

How did he help his son with those remarks? He is in fact speaking on behalf of his son, therefore those idiotic comments are going to be linked to his son.

And who forced the father to do the interview or make a statement? You make him out to be some 73 year old who was scammed out of his life savings. He WILLINGLY gave that interview. He WILLINGLY offered up those statements. Those comments are indicative of what is wrong with society because no one wants to be held accountable and there is always an excuse.

And no, I do not feel badly for an individual who brings a situation such as this upon themself. This is not the same as a mother losing a child in an accident or some uncontrollable incident of that sort. This is a situation where an individuals knew the laws of the land (whether you agree with them or not) and of their own volition chose to break them. Where is the sympathy suppose to come from? Drugs are addictive? Matt Jones went to college, probably knew that, ignored that warning sign and any other warning sign associated with drug use.